Cuff-link.



M. KOHN.

CUFF LINK.

Patented Jan.14,191 9.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25 I918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

1 lllllllisz fizz/(1. 7? /0/". 4% 7? f0 6 if?) @11 M. KOHN.

CUFF LINK.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25 1918.

Patented Jan. 14, 1919.

3SHEETS-SHEET 2.

M. KOHN.

CUFF LINK.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25 1918.

11,291,555. Patented Jan. 14,1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

MONROE KOHN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CUFF-LINK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 25, 1918. 'Seria1NoQ'224A41.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known'that I, Mo'NRoE KoI-IN, a citi-' zen of the United States,residing at Chicago,'county of Cook, State of Illinois, have invented acertain new and useful Improvement in Cuff-Links, and declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and usethe same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, which form apart of this specification.

My invention relates to that type of cuff fastening which comprises twobutton members detachably connected together so that the two members maybe inserted independently of each other into the cuff ends andthereafter be connected together; and it has for its object to produce asimple and novel construction and arrangement which may be placed inposition or removed easily and conveniently, which shall hold the cuffsecurely fastened, and which, when in place, shall present substantiallythe same appear ance and give substantially thesame effect as anordinary cufi' link comprising simple flat button members and a flexibleconnecting link. I

In carrying out my invention I employ two members each comprising aheadand a shank, the two shanks being constructed and arranged to bedetachably connected together. In order to hold the individual membersin the cuff before they are connected together and prevent them fromdrop ping out, I provide clamping devices on the inner or under side ofeach of the heads; these clamping devices being made to slip easilythrough a button hole and then to" spread out and engage the innersurface of the cuff in the vicinity of the button hole. This feature ofmy invention may be used to advantage in connection with collar buttonsor studs, particularly those having long shanks, where it is desired tohold the base of the button or stud in close contact with a collar bandor other member through which the button passes. Therefore,viewed in oneof its aspects, my invention may be said to have for its object toproduce a simple and novel clamping device for permitting a head memberto be detachably clamped against a part through which an attached shankpasses.

It is of course necessary that thejclamping.

device be capable of occupying such a position that it will not obstructthe entranceof i theshanks of the buttons throughthe butto'n' holes and,viewed in one of its aspects," my

invention may be said to have for its object" to produceasimple'clamping device of the kind specified which will pass readily"through a button hole, serve to open the but ton hole to receivethe'headed'or 'unheaded' shank, and then automatically spread out on theinner side of the'cufi" and clamp the cuff against the button memberon'the outer side of the cuff.

The various featuresofnovelty whereby my invention is characterized willl'iereinafter be pointed out with particularity in the claims; but, fora full understandingof my" invention and of its objects"andadvantages,

reference ,may behad to the followi1 gde-"' tailedfdescription takeninconnection with the accompanylng drawlngs', wherem:

Figure 1 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section of onemember of a in Fig. 1, in a plane at rightangles t0 the planeof Fig. 1;Fig. 3 is a topplan view;

Fig. 4 is a section takenapproximately on line 4l of Fig. 1, onan'enlarge'd scale;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation similar'to Fig. '1,

showing the complementary member Fig." 6

is a side elevation of one member of a modified form of button or link;Fig. 7 1s a s1de elevation in a plane at right anglesto the plane ofFig. 6; Fig. 8 is a section taken approximately on line 88 of Fig. 6;Fig.9

is a section on an enlarged scale taken 'approximately on line 9-9 ofFig-6; Fig.10

is a side elevation of a modified form of de-' vice; Fig. 11 is a sideelevation of a still further modification; and Fig. 12 is atop plan viewof the device shown in Fig; 11.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 5 of thedrawings,

1 and 2 represent two button members'adapted to form the outer orexposed buttons of a pair of cuff links and provided respectively withshanks, 3 and 4, projecting centrally from the inner sides thereof. Attheir free ends the shanks are provided With means for detachablyconnecting them together in a simple and convenientmanner. In thearrangement shown, the shank member 3 is provided with a small head'orball, while the shank, 4, has a socket, 6; themembers 5 and 6'constituting an ordinary ball and socket snap fastening. 'On the innerside of each of the members 1 and 2 are two fingers, 7 and 8, hinged atone end to the corresponding button member on opposite sides of theshank and overlapping at their free ends so as to form a part more orless U-shaped in appearance when both of the fingers are placed upright,that is parallel with the corresponding shank. The fingers arepreferably bowed in opposite directions as viewed in the direction of aplane containing their pivotal axis ,as shown in Fig. 2, so that when in"their raised or vertical position they bulge outwardly from each otherin the vicinity of the members 5 and 6 and then engageeach other abovethe members 5 and 6so as'to form a gradually swelling twopart shield forthe latter. Thus, when one of the link members is to be placed in acuff, the engaging outer or upper ends of the fingers are first insertedthrough the button hole and, by pressing inwardly upon the button, thebutton lioleis gradually opened so that the ball or socket member canpass readily through the same. The parts are so arranged that as thefingers pass through the button hole, they are caused to swing abouttheir pivots and assume the positions shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2,namely positions in which they project in opposite directions from theshank or post and lie substantially flat against the inner side of the Icufl'. In order that the fingers may be held in each of their twopositions and snap into their looking or clamping positions after havingbeen started by the button hole, they are preferably supported in someone of the usual ways employed in collar buttons or the like havinghinged heads or guards. In the arrangement shown, each of the fingershas at its base a trunnion member, 9, seated in a suitable socket, l0,stamped up out of the metal of which the inner side of the correspondingbutton is made; each trunnion member having on its under or inner side apart, 11, having two fiat faces which make an angle with each other. Aspring plate or disk, 12, is arranged within each of the buttons incontact with the trunnions and the part 11 of each trunnion is so shapedthat whenever thecorresponding finger is in its raised or verticalposition one of the flat faces of the part 11 engages with the disk orplate 12 while in the clamping position of the finger the other flatface engages with the spring plate or disk. In shifting a finger fromone position to the other a point will always be reached from which theremainder of the shifting move- "ment will be automatic due to theaction of the spring plate or disk. If the fingers are of the sameheight it is necessary that they cross each other in order that they maybegin. to move into their clamping positions when they enter the buttonhole. Furthermore, inorder to secure a comparatively thin wedge-likeedge or end for entry into the button hole, the overlapping portions ofthe fingers, as indicated at 13, are preferably reduced in thickness sothat their combined thicknesses are no greater than the thickness of themain portion of one of the fingers alone.

In the arrangement shown in Figs. 6 to 9, the button member with itsshank and fastening device may be the same as that heretofore described.Instead of individual fingers, two complete bails, 14 and 15, may beprovided for each button; each of the bails being hinged at the ends ofits arms to the button at opposite sides of and in the vicinity of theshank of the button. In the arrangement shown, there is a commonsupporting bearing, 16, for the two bail ends on each side of the shank.Each of these bearings may consist of a piece of sheet metal bent intothe form of a cylinder and having free edges or ends extended throughthe inner member 17 of the button and bent laterally as indicated at 18in Fig. 9. The ends of the inner bail 14 are bent outwardly, asindicated at 19, so as to enter the bearing 16 from the inner ends ofthe latter. The ends of the outer bail 15 are bent inwardly so as toenter the bearing 16 from the outer ends. The bails are made of springmaterial and the bearings are provided in their inner and outer endswith notches, 21 and 22, into which theadj acent portions of the bailsmay seat themselves. The notches are so disposed that whenever the bailsare in their upright positions as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, they will beyieldingly held in those positions by the notches 21 whereas, when theyare in their lowered or clamping positions, they are yieldingly held inthose positions by means of the notches 22; the springiness of the bailspermitting them to yield sufficiently to ride into and out of thenotches and serving also to keep them seated in the notches with asufficient degree of firmness to prevent them from being accidentallydisplaced. The bails are bowed in opposite directions between the endsthereof so as to secure an great asor greater'than the largestcorresponding dimension of the ball or socket or other fastening deviceon the end of the shank of the corresponding button.

Instead of bowing the guard members or fingers, any other means may beprovided for effecting .an automatic shifting thereof as they passthrough the button holes. Thus, in the arrangement shown in Fig. 10,there is a guard finger, 25, pivotally supported at its lower end in abearing, 26, similar to the bearing 16 in the device shown in Figs. 7 to9, there being a lateral projection, 27, at any suitable point along thefinger, conveniently in the vicinity of the hinge axis. When the deviceis to be inserted through a button hole, the finger is placed in theposition shown in full lines and, as the fabric in the vicinity of thebutton hole strikes the projection 27, the finger is'caused to besnapped from the full line position into the dotted line position.

In Figs. 11 and 12 I have shown another form of my invention inwhich'the guard, 30, is in the form of a loop or flat plate having ahole through the same, hinged as indicated at 31, in the same mannerthat the guard fingers in the form of my invention shown in Figs; 1 to 4are hinged;the parts being so proportioned thatin one of'the'twopositions of the guard it extends diagonally up past the top or free endof the shankand overlies the latterat itsfree endas shown in full'linesin the drawing. As the device is passed through a button hole, the guardis pressed down and snapsinto'the clamping position shown in dottedlines'in the drawing. I

It will thus be seen that I have produced a simple and novel arrangementwhich will permit the two members of a cuff fastening to be insertedeasily and conveniently through the button'holes and'be yieldinglylocked so as to prevent them from being accident-ally withdrawn ordropping out before the two ends of the cuff are brought together andthe'two fastening members connected. It will furthermore be seen thatthe yieldable locking is efi'ected automatically because of the shape ofthe guard fingers which causes them to be snapped against the inner sideof .the cuff as they pass through the button hole. It will also be seenthat the guard fingers serve as an entering wedge to open the buttonholes for the passage of the shanks and, where the shanks are headed toprovide a ball and socket joint, the bowing of the guard fingers beyondthe enlarged portions insures that the latter will easily pass throughthe button holes. In

some instances the guards may serve as clamps although, if desired, theparts need not be so proportioned that the cuff will be actually clampedbetween the guards and the ornamental buttons or heads. It will also beseen that my invention maybe applied to a single button such as a collarbutton, or the like; either of the two complementary parts of the cufffastenings illustrated serving to represent such a collar button orstudwhich could have a head of any desired size and shape at the point wherethe ball or socket member is located in the arrangement shown.

In the foregoing detailed description I have referred to my invention asapplied to fastening devices for garments or parts of garments, but itis equally applicable to the fastening together of any members which itis now customary or which it may be desirable to connect together bymeans of buttons and button holes. An example of such a use is theattachment of curtains for automobiles or carriages.

WVhile I have illustrated and described with particularity only a singlepreferred form of my invention, with a slight modification, I do'notdesire to be limited to the ,exact structural details thus illustratedand in which it extends in the general direction of the shank to aposition in which it extends transversely of the shank, the length ofsaid member being such that when it extends in the general direction ofthe shank it projects beyond the head of the button so as to enter abutton hole in advance of the button head.

2. A button having ahead and a shank and a clamping member hinged to thebutton at a point below the head and adapted to swing from a position inwhich it extends in the general direction of the shank to a positiontransverse of the shank, said clamping member being constructed andarranged to be automatically forced from the first mentioned position tothe other position by the material surrounding a button hole throughwhich the head of the button is passe 3. A button having a head and ashank and two clamping members hinged to the button below the head andadapted to swing from positions in which they extend in the generaldirection of the shank to positions transverse to the shank, saidclamping members being of such length that when they extend in thegeneral direction of the shank they project beyond the head of thebutton and enter the button hole in advance of the head.

4. In a device of the character described, a head or button, twoclamping members hinged to the same and adapted to swing from a positionapproximately at right angles to the plane of the button or head to aposition approximately parallel to said plane, said clamping membersbeing bowed outwardly in opposite directions from a plane containing thehinge axes and extending at right angles to the aforesaid plane.

5. In a device of the character described, a head or button, twoclamping members hinged to the same and adapted to swing from a positionapproximately at right angles to the plane of the button or head to aposition approximately parallel to said plane, said clamping membersbeing bowed outwardly in opposite directions from a plane containing thehinge axes and extending at right angles to the aforesaid plane, andmeans for holding said members yieldingly in each of their aforesaidpositions.

6. In a device of the character described, a head or button, twoclamping members hinged to the same and adapted to swing from a positionapproximately at right angles to the plane of the button or head to aposition approximately parallel to said plane, said clamping membersbeing bowed outwardly in opposite directions from a plane containing thehinge axes and extending at right angles to the aforesaid plane, andmeans for yieldingly holding said members in each of the aforesaidpositions and causing them to move into either of said positions whenbrought to a predetermined point from the other position.

7. In a device of the character described, comprising two button memberseach hav ing a head and a shank, means at the free ends of the shanksfor detachably connecting them together, two guard fingers hinged toeach of said members so as to be capable of swinging about an axistransverse to the corresponding shank from a position in which theyextend in the general direction of the shank to positions in which theyextend transversely of and in opposite directions from the shank, saidfingers being made of such length and being so shaped that when in theupright position they extend across the free end of the correspondingshank and serve as a guide in entering the shank into a button hole.

8. In. a device of the character described, comprising two buttonmembers each having a head and a shank, means at the free ends of theshanks for detachably connecting them together, two guard fingers hingedto each of said members so as to be capable of swinging about an axistransverse to the corresponding shank from a position in which theyextend in the general direction of the shank to positions in which theyextend transversely of and in opposite directions from the shank, saidfingers being made of such length and being so shaped that when in theupright position they extend across the free end of the correspondingshank and serve as a guide in entering the shank into a button hole, andthe guard fingers on each of said members being bowed in oppositedirections in planes transverse to their hinge axis.

9. In a device of the character described,

comprising two button members each having a head and a shank, means atthe free ends of the shanks for detachably connect-.

ing them together, two guard fingers hinged to each of said members soas to be capable of swinging about an axis transverse to thecorresponding shank from a position in which they extend in the generaldirection of the shank to positions in which they extend transversely ofand in opposite directions from the shank, said fingers being made ofsuch length and being so shaped that when in the upright position theyextend across the free end of the corresponding shank and serve as aguide in entering the shank into a button hole, the guard fingers oneach of said members being bowed in opposite directions in planestransverse to their hinge axis, and means associated with each of saidguard fingers for holding it yieldingly in each of its aforesaidpositions and permitting it to snap from one position to the otherafterbeing carried to a predetermined point.

10. A button having a head and a shank, said shank having an enlargementat its free end, and a guard hinged to the button at a point below saidenlargement and adapted to swing from a position in which it extends inthe general direction of the shank to a position in which it extendstransversely of the shank, said member having a part projectinglaterally so as to he a considerable distance at one side of a linepassing through the hinge axis and parallel with the shank and adaptedto be engagedby the material beside a button hole to swing the guardfrom one position to the otllier when it is passed through a button hoe.

11. A device of the character described, comprising two members eachhaving a head and a shank, means at the free ends of the shanks fordetachably connecting them, and a guard finger hinged on each of saidme1nbers so as to be capable of swinging from positions in which theyextend in the general directions of the shanks to positions in whichthey lie transversely of the shanks, each guard finger having a partprojecting laterally to be engaged by the material beside a button holeand cause the finger to be swung into its transverse position afterpassing through a button hole.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification.

MONROE KOHN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Gommissioner of Patents, Washington, D. O.

